Wading River, NY – A Holtsville man has been indicted on felony arson and burglary charges after prosecutors say he intentionally set fire to a Wading River pizzeria weeks after being terminated from his job there, leaving investigators to unravel a trail of surveillance video, accelerants, and alleged motive tied to a dispute over pay.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Constantine Sackos, 59, was indicted for third-degree arson in connection with a fire at Pazzo Ristorante and Wood Fired Pizzeria that broke out in the early morning hours of November 18. Sackos was arraigned Wednesday before Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski.
He has been identified as a former digruntled employee.
According to investigators, a 911 call reporting the blaze was received at approximately 1:57 a.m., prompting a response from Riverhead Town police and multiple fire departments. The fire was contained and extinguished after roughly two hours, preventing further damage to the surrounding area.
A joint investigation later determined the fire was criminal in nature after authorities identified seven points of origin and recovered a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid from inside the restaurant. The probe involved Riverhead Town Police, local and county fire marshals, the Suffolk County Police Department Arson Squad, and the district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors said Sackos emerged as a suspect after investigators learned he had recently been fired from the pizzeria and had allegedly gone to the owner’s residence multiple times before and after the fire demanding money for back pay. Surveillance footage reviewed during the investigation allegedly shows Sackos purchasing Kingsford charcoal lighter fluid hours before the fire and transporting a bicycle in his Jeep.
Video evidence further alleges that Sackos drove to the Mount Sinai area, left his vehicle near the North Shore Rail Trail, and rode a bicycle toward the pizzeria shortly before the fire. Surveillance footage shows an individual consistent with Sackos exiting the rear of the restaurant as smoke filled the building and later fleeing the area on a bicycle before briefly returning and leaving again.
Investigators said Sackos returned to his Holtsville home several hours later. A search warrant executed at his residence on November 20 resulted in the seizure of clothing consistent with that seen on surveillance video. A K9 accelerant dog later indicated the presence of accelerants on the recovered items.
Sackos was arrested following the indictment and charged with one count of arson in the third degree, burglary in the third degree, criminal mischief in the second degree, and petit larceny. Justice Pilewski ordered him released under supervised conditions with GPS monitoring, without bail, because the charges are non-bail eligible under current New York law. He is scheduled to return to court on February 26 and faces 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count.
- A Holtsville man was indicted for allegedly setting fire to a Wading River pizzeria after being fired
- Investigators cited multiple points of origin, lighter fluid, and extensive surveillance video
- The defendant was released under supervision without bail and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted